AN armed robber from Elm near Wisbech who was recalled to Norwich prison for breaching the terms of his release has been found hanging in his cell.

Thomas Curtis, 29, who was jailed for 12 years for robbery in 2006, was found in his cell at Norwich prison at approximately 5.45am on Monday. He was pronounced dead at 6.10am.

It is understood that Curtis had not been identified as a prisoner at risk of suicide or self harm and an investigation is under way.

A prison service spokesman said: “As with all deaths in custody, the Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

Curtis had been one of six travellers who received long sentences for their part in a string of ATM ram raids and violent robberies across East Anglia. Their arrest came after one of the region’s biggest joint police operations.

The gang had been responsible for stealing property and cash worth more than �1 million a year long spree across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

The culmination of their spree resulted in 500 officers staging raids on a number of travellers’ sites in Wisbech and Suffolk.

Family members and friends of Curtis included Stacey Smith, John Smith, and his brother John all from Wisbech and Rocky Curtis of March.

The longest term of 16 years was imposed on Rocky Buckley of Willingham but Thomas Curtis was given 12 years, John Curtis 11 years, and Stacey Smith 10 years.

Rocky Curtis, who acted as the gang’s banker, was given a community sentence.

The gang had armed themselves for sawn off shotguns, baseball bats, pickaxe handles, and sledgehammers as they targeted village shops, post offices and petrol filling stations.